As part of an ongoing drive to make Bees United both more professional and more efficient, the BU Board have changed the procedures relating to Supporter Elected Directors on the BFC Board.
When the current appointment expires in February 2009 the next appointment will be made from the supporter-elected members of the BU Board. This has a number of advantages to the current system:
1. The BU-nominated BFC Director posts are a critical means for the Trust to deliver on its core aim of ensuring the sustainability of BFC. This change strengthens the links between the BU Board and its BFC nominees.
2. The Trust will gain flexibility and save costs of around £2,000 (ultimately being paid for by our members) through avoiding a separate election process to enable re-appointment or changes to the nomination.
Ultimately the roles of BU Board member and BU nominee to the BFC Board are fundamentally aligned. Both require the same skills, attitude and approach. Members have been electing candidates to the BU Board on similar or identical criteria as they have been under the previous Supporter Elected Director elections. The BU board remain committed to ensuring that the views of supporters receive proper and timely consideration by both Bees United and the Football Club, and our objective is for Members to feel that all BU Board members or nominees are accessible to achieve this.
We have made this change now to ensure that our members are aware in advance of the BU Board elections later this year – we will communicate the timescales and process for these separately. Successful candidates in these elections will be eligible to be selected to represent BU on the BFC Board from February next year.
It is appropriate at this time to also recognise the efforts of Jon Gosling, the current incumbent. Jon was appointed following a difficult period for the Supporter Elected Director post. He has delivered on a number of election commitments over and above the stated requirements for the role, and his efforts have been much appreciated by both the BU and BFC Boards. Jon is currently deciding whether to stand for election to the BU Board later this year (thus making himself eligible for re-appointment to the BFC Board) or not (in which case his current term expires in February 2009).
If you have any queries regarding this change please do not hesitate to contact either the Chair of Bees United (David Merritt, david.merritt@beesunited.org.uk) or any other BU Board Member.
Policy Related to Supporter Elected Directors (Adopted 21st July 2008)
It is Bees United (BU) Policy that some of the BU nominees to the BFC Board are elected by Supporters.
Of the BU nominee positions on the BFC Board (currently four in number), it is BU Policy that a minimum of 50% (currently two) of the nominees are BU Board members elected by Supporters.
It is BU Policy not to hold separate member elections to identify those nominees. Selection of nominees will be made by the BU Board from those current BU Board Members who have been elected by the full BU membership. Such nominees shall be expected to resign from the BFC Board should they cease to be an elected BU Board Member (for any reason).
This policy shall take effect on the resignation of Jon Gosling from the BFC Board, which shall be no later than February 2009.